Go to Past Entries 16

Joshua - 03/17/00 05:57:21

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Xinyan, you sound so bitter...

Weikai - 03/17/00 00:32:48

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Haha, Xinyan, I don't know why, but I found what you've said very amusing. Now I am really curious to see for myself what those B.Eng (pun) students in NTU are like, having heard so much about them other than from you.

Xinyan - 03/16/00 19:11:08

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Well, HQ and HY, I'll have to say, you'll probably like it here in NTU very, very much! Because here we have lots of cao Ah Bengs who walk around the hostels being buddy-buddy with their whole gang of Ah Beng frens and generally disturbing other people. W have this big, fat, hairy-legged (and god knows where else) guy who is VERY VERY VERY jiang-yi qi, or trys to be, coz tt's what every good cao Ah Beng should do, and who enjoys sitting outside his room whistling a single tune as loudly as he can manage f r 1 whole f***ing hour!

Ahem! Anyway, we also have civil engineering students who like to dress themselves up in tough, macho looking construction clothes(i.e. discoloured NTU t-shirts and worn jeans), and who spit around on the construction sites in TU in a bid to look more Beng/construction workerish(???). I dun think Bengs are very jiang yi qi. I think they are very pretentious. Do they know what is being jiang yi qi, or are they too affected by certain chow yun fatt movies??

And that's not all if you're going to join our hall orientation programs, esp. if you're coming to hall 8, be entertained by songs/cheers which mention bananas and watermelons as representations of certain parts of our anatomy. Fun isn't it?

siwei - 03/15/00 21:41:39
My Email:sy.wei@cornell.edu

Comments:
I think everywhere you go, whatever social circle you hang around with, there'll be people you meet who have qualities you admire lor... I mean... of course "jiang3 yi4 qi4" is good... of course the "typical ah beng" can teach us quite a few things or two but I mean.. isn't everything a trade-off? I'm sure the "ah bengs" aren't entirely simple in all ways (how do you reconcile being streetsmart and "jiang3 yi4 qi4",by the way?) and it's not people who are in the "higher echelons of society" are neccessari y two-faced and ready to do whatever they need to do in order to achieve their personal goals. I figured that I can't change how I was brought up, the schools that I've been to.. whatever. But I can choose to learn whatever I can from whoever it is that I m hanging around with at that present point in my life. (what was that saying? "San1 ren2 xing2 bi4 you2 wo3 shi1", was it?) I don't have to integrate myself fully into any one social circle, nor fully adopt the values that are GENERALLY associated with a y one social circle. My general philosophy is "moderation is good" (Works for most things, but of course that may also mean that I end up being a colourless person =P)
Well... I haven't had time to reread the entry.. in a rush now.. if anything there doesn't make sense, I'll come correct it later. =P
Take care, everyone =)

HQ - 03/15/00 19:34:55

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Mebbe I did come off a little too exaggerated... and mebbe the guys I'm with aren't just the same as the ones you guys encounter [after all my is your standard Combat Battalion Mono-intake Batch from the not-so-high-walks of Singapore, some of whom are or di making plans for marriage being no older than me by 3 years] Mebbe it's just the dread of being thrown back into the elitist-type environment I've been forced into from the moment I chose to join the GEP... not to worry, the one thing tt the army taugh me well was how to be BoChUp.. =) And about the movie-thingy, Penny should go see Joan of Arc... found the abuse of Confessions really disturbing [she had the perception tt as long as she confessed her sins to a priest, she was 'saved', it was like kill- onfess-kill-confess]

Howie - 03/15/00 17:41:01

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Actually the poly and lower guys are not really that simple and 2-bit as most of us presume. It was always an assumption I had, that they were serious no-lifers, guess army changed all that... In fact, they probably posess better PR skills, streetsmarts and instincts than most of us, albeit less polished, coz sometimes the level of English they speak really has more to be desired...But put them out to society and the working world, they'd adjus in no time, while we might still be groping around...
and it's not true that most of them will never get a diploma or higher...on the contrary, their desire to work hard and excel has never been harder...mebbe it's coz they're generally older than Alevel 'mainstream' NS guys, so they want to catch up as much as possible...they have dreams of making it big..of doing a business, and they really go out and do it...they work to get some money, join up with frds and just go do it...be it a cafe, pub, trading company...whereas we are streamlined professionally into our careers...But i've begun to see the light ..as in from their perspective..so i too...eventually would wish to start my own business, or be some investor,..it really is a much better option...I would not want to be bound to my job when i'm 45 just beca se i need the paycheck...unless the job is so satisfying, the rewards are intangible....it's like after 45,...it's the time to really pursue other things besides work...i wished i had my dad ard to talk to me when i was in my teenage years, but it couldn' be helped, with 3 young boys schooling and my mom as a housewife, my dad just could not afford to slag off...in fact..he probably never worked harder...i do not want to miss those times in my family's life...they are so so crucial...so vital...and all th s is just one reason....
I noe i really veered off-track there, but as simple as we think they are, they possess a strength of character that is quite absent among us...the "yi qi" thingy, simple to grasp yet so entirely difficult to live by, but they have lived by it all their l ves. A strong integrity...such that they are usually not 2-faced...they are usually honest as they come, whether in a good way or bad way... u become firm friends with them...not some social hobnobbing that erupts every now and then among the elitist soci ty...correct me if i'm wrong, but that's how i feel really..abt life back in RJ, or any highly intellectual society in general...not applicable to everybody, but the incidences tend to be rather high...anyway...my 2-cents worth...wrote too much i tink...b t i've been too quiet for a while dun ya think??..

Joshua - 03/15/00 15:30:42

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Advanced thinking? Future planning? English-speaking? HQ, this is Celeste Chong you're talking about. (oops hope she doesn't read this) What I mean to say is, I doubt the average uni kid is all that much brighter/gifted with more common sense than the ave age diploma guy. Anyway, simplicity (your average earthy beng, the kind I served with for about a year) has a few things to be said for it. Wish I could take a ride in an M113 sometime. Then again, I'm not wishing too hard. //And Penny, Hollywood film-m kers have too much imagination (like me) but the difference between them and me is they have the money to put their weird thoughts onto a film projector. It's probably just his imagination. Oh btw, Hollywood tend to be rather anti-Christian, oughta take t eir claims with a largish pinch of salt.

Penny - 03/15/00 13:38:16

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Dear all, was just wondering, has anyone watched Stigmata yet? Does anyone know whether what was said in it is true? Like the part bout how they found some scrolls, and yet the church doesn't recognize it? Eh, don't mean to start any theological discussio , but was just wondering, cos very bothered after watching it..

HQ - 03/13/00 07:29:26

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On the brink of concussing at the moment... just kana tua by my friend [again]... had to replace him as the co-ordinator for yesterday's L/F. Came back late last nite... then rushed off to NTU this morning for my medical checkup... Glad to hear you guys had fun at Belumut... was happily driving around Area D im my M113 eating the sand blowing in my face... Had the sudden realisation at NTU today... tt in a few mths time, I'll be in an environment of pple of the same educational level, advanced thinking, future-planning, english-speaking, etc etc. Which would be so very close to being the total opposite of m present environment, where the pple are simple, chinese/hokkien-speaking, most of whom are never gonna get aything better than a Poly education [which most have yet to obtain] Hope it doesn't prove to be too much of a culture shock for my 2yr+ Army-train d-mentality

theresa - 03/12/00 11:21:05

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hey! i was just going to say that! (Just that I fell asleep before I could compose it properly). It's nicer reading a detailed thing which I would never get when I ask, "So what did you do on your holiday?" It's all these small things on streets and corne s that people won't think of first when asked this but I think are the most interesting.

Wen - 03/12/00 11:08:21

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Hey, I don't mind the travelogues, its nice to hear what you guys do over there. Snowboarding? Wah, cool guy huh!

Siwei - 03/11/00 06:48:27
My Email:sy.wei@cornell.edu

Comments:
Hello... you're welcome, Weikai. I know it must be frustrating to not know what to expect, so I was just writing what I've personally experienced. Not prob whatsoever. Feel free to email me or Jason if you need more info. And NO, the Singapore is NOT acce ted as valid license in some states. New York state accepts it, but I know for a fact taht Massachussets doesn't. So if you want to drive, go get an international license. Also, if you're a new driver, i'd not suggest it. Signs are not such a big deal -mo t of the time you'll be following the highway and if you have someone with you to help you keep a lookout, then it should be ok, but if you're not used to long distance driving, then it's a better idea not to lah... Anyway, car got alot of hidden costs al o (esp since we're all under 25 -- got surcharge). And Jason dear... florida is soooo far down.. unless he wants to take a flight down, err... don't you think it's a little far off? Oh well.... nmind. I think we should stop this. Weikai, if you got more q estions, then just email us lah.... I'm sure that we'll be more than happy to answer questions. Jason is VERY VERY free this coming week... go make him do something useful with his time.. hee hee...I'll be very free after Tuesday also, so ask away. I like doing this =)

Jeremy - 03/11/00 05:01:46

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Oh...good luck for your driving test Weikai. Hope you meet a nice tester..

Jason - 03/11/00 04:13:53

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okay.. that's real bad. None of the code works..paiseh..

here're the correct links
AMTRAK
Hostelling International
YMCA

Weikai - 03/11/00 02:17:07

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By the way Xinyan I am not that rich ok! I'll be using my scholarship allowance for this travel. Which means, after I return, I'll have to stinge on my daily expenses. That's the kind of sacrifice, and I hope it's worth lar. Really want to make use of this "last chance" to go outside and broaden my views.
I'll be going with Denise actually, accomodation is not a problem cos she has an uncle there with a 4-storey house. Luxury huh. So I'll save a pile on accomodation, and that cuts down my travel budget by quite a bit already.

Weikai - 03/11/00 02:12:02

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Wow Siwei, am I truly amazed and touched at your recommendations! Thanks a lot, those are real good info, will be very useful to me. By the way, I don't know if we can drive, is the s'pore licence valid in US? Have to wait til I get my licence first anyway, hopefully in 7 days' time. Will be apprenhensive of the different traffic rules and conditions there too I suppose. I think my most probable mode of transport should be train or bus.
Jason, most of your links are wrongly coded! Check them out =).


Jason - 03/10/00 23:43:52

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oops.. got one of my links "missing". it's actually "there" but I coded it wrongly. Click the "and" for the link to Hostelling International.

Jason - 03/10/00 23:41:32
My Email:jason.png@cornell.edu

Comments:
Siwei, there are missing letters because you didn't have line break in your entries. Somehow, the guestbook will drop some letters if the entries are too long without any break.
I guess Siwei had said what I want to say. Those are the places that I went during my winter break. Driving is definitely a good way to move around, unless you have plenty of time to spare and do not mind taking long train rides. That was how I travell d. There are 2 kinds of "season" pass: 15 days for USD250 or 30 days for USD310. You may want to check out AMTRAK for more details.
As for accomodation, I stayed in hostels. They are definitely cheaper than hotel. Cost about USD16-19 per day and you have to pay an additional dollar or two for bedsheets. The only disadvantage is the lack of security. You will have to share your roo with other people. When I went to Boston and New York, there were 6 people to a room. In Philadelphia and Washington, there are no rooms at all. Everybody just stayed in this big "shophouse". You wil get to meet interesting people in the hostel. Li e I met this guy who spend half a year travelling with his bike. I thought that this kind of people only exist in movies, but I was wrong = ) Again, you may want to check and YMCA.
Other than those 4 cities, you can also go Florida (if you still have money left. heehee) It's a bit out of the way but it should be a fun place to go. I have not been there before but will definitely visit it someday. Siwei, how come you never recomm nd Florida?
A good travel guide to get is Let's GO USA. The maps and descriptions are useful to decide how and where to go. Okie, that's all I can think of now. Will come back if I think of anything else. Heh heh... hope no one is bored with our travelogue. It m y come in useful if any of you decide to tour US someday.
Okie, got to go for dinner now...hungry... I just came back from my last snowboarding lesson. Ouch, hurt my butt so much by falling on ICE... there is not much snow left on the slope to board... YEAH... spring in coming...

Siwei - 03/10/00 22:41:31
My Email:sy.wei@cornell.edu

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How come there are all these missing letters in our entries?

Siwei - 03/10/00 22:37:04
My Email:sy.wei@cornell.edu

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Err... sorry to everyone that i wrote such a long entry that wasn't pertinent to everyone except weikai. I didn't really realise how long it was =P Come to think of it, I should have emailed him, don't ask me why it didn't occur to me . Sor ie

Siwei - 03/10/00 22:35:07
My Email:sy.wei@cornell.edu

Comments:
Weikai, how are you going to be travelling? By bus? or driving or what? Driving is cheap if you have a few people, and infinintely more flexible, but if you're going alone, then you can take the Greyhound Bus -- it pretty much covers all of the US. Defini ely all the major cities. From DC (I presume that's what you mean when you say Washington, right?) the nearest big cities worth going to would be Philadelphia, Boston, NYC. I didn't spend much time in Philadelphia, but then it's a nice historic city lor. o take the horse carriage ride if you're interested.. it'll take you around a tour of the city, with the guide telling you all sorts of things about the city's history. Then you can go see the liberty bell, independence hall, etc. They almost always have uides at all the major attractions to tell you about the history of the place. And then South street is apparently quite a happening place. It's interesting lah.. but when I was there, nothing happened except that we got bugged by a few beggars. Must try he Philly cheesesteak there, though... it's nice. But as for what else there is to do in Philly, maybe Yuhua can tell you better, since it's her "di4 pan2".
Boston is a nice and charming kind of place (in my opinion). You can walk the freedom trail, go to Quincy Market (it's kind of like a pasar malam on the outside and eating stalls on the inside). When you're in Boston, can try the Boston clam chowder. And OBSTER!! Oh well... maybe not for you, since you have no lack of seafood back home... but when you spend 9 months in Ithaca, seafood is a luxury =) STill... Boston is famous for it's lobster lor... plenty of places to eat. The most famous one is Legal Sea ood, but it's expensive (min $30+ person, I think..) can go to some smaller restaurants. I remmeber I got a 1-pound lobster, with salad and fries, for $12, at some place called The Black Rose (it's near Quincy market). That would be a good price but I'm n t sure if the lobster there is veyr good or what... tasted nice enough to me, but I'm no foodie.=) You can go walk around in the Boston Commons (a park) and just enjoy the weather (should be very nice at the time that you're there), or take a bus to Cambr dge and see Harvard/MIT. MIT has bits of interesting architecture here and there. And the science centre there is supposed to be very interesting. Haven't been inside, but I've seen the Harvard one, and it's rather nice also (I guess..) If you know someon who's going to be there in MIT/Harvard at that time, ask them to bring you around lor.I think Boston is a nice place to just sit around and relax also. Just walk around, take in the sights and sounds. There's a theater district there and the plays are su posed to be pretty good (according to Shixiang), but I've never seen them myself.
In NYC, if you want, there are always the usual tourist spots lor -- Statue of Liberty, Empire State building, Times Square.. etc. Most places are pretty accessible just by the metro. For the Statue of Liberty be prepared for a bad view at the crown. Ther are just a few small windows and you really can't see that much. SO you basically walk up the steps (which get REALLY narrow and steep near the top) and walk all the way down again. =) YOu can elect to take the elevator up the the top of the base only, b t personally, I'd think that you might as well go up to the top, just to see what it's like.. though it's not something that I'd do twice. The nicest part really is the ferry ride and the island itself -- you get a nice view of the statue when you're abou dock at Liberty island. If you want to catch a photo, must get it from the front, though... =) cause you actually dock behind it, I think... Never been to Empire state building and the UNHQ (can ask Jason.. he's been there). Times square is nice. Manhatt n in general is just nice to walk around. Just all the sights and sounds (don't just look in front of you =) .. must look up also.. some of the buildings and their displays are very interesting) Just walk along Broadway, Fith Avenue etc... Don't buy also an see window displays. Some are really cool. Esp at night. When all the things are lighted up, it's really awesome. Don't think you'd want to wander into the other districts, though (ie. Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens etc... it's not safe lor..). Anyway, they'r all residential areas, so I doubt that there's much to see. And then for food, Chinatown is the cheapest lor. It's seriously cheap considering it's NYC -- in the range of $3-$5, depending on what you eat. And then of cos you should watch a Broadway music l. CAn buy the tickets on the day itself for half-price, but of cos you run the risk of the tixs running out if you go late, but... considering that the usual price is $80 +, I'd think it's worth it. (Matinee cheaper, but not all shows have matinees) Can' remember what the ticketing agent is called... TKTS or something like that.. it's in the World Trade Center.
Since you're going to be there for 3 weeks, you might want to make it across the border to the Quebec provinces (Montreal, etc), but I think Montreal is best for shopping... there are things to see lah.. but it's very much a shopping place.. got a huge un erground shopping area. There's the botanical gardens, the Olympic stadium (with it's tower and cable car) and other things... I went in winter, so I didn't get to see certain things - it was just too cold to stay outside for too long. Jason's going in a eek's time - you ask him what he did lor.
Hmm... I think that's all =)

Siwei - 03/10/00 21:57:51
My Email:sy.wei@cornell.edu

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Weikai - 03/10/00 18:13:37

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Siwei, any good recommendations? I sure don't wanna stick to Washington for 3 weeks. Which places are accessible from Washington, and worth visiting? NYC I suppose? Please drop some pointers, very grateful =).
What I like about David Tao is the style of his songs, and the way he sings them too. It's almost Blues, and creates such an at ease and lazy air, that I feel almost totally relaxed. Maybe only lazy people like me can experience, c.f. resonance!


Joshua - 03/10/00 14:15:24

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At a distance of 1 week a few things stand out about Belumut. Like the million or so scratches I have from a close encounter with a bush. And the cool fireflies in the forest that have been derided as "little green things" by some people who just insist o seeing things as they are. And the fascinating pattern of water droplets on a spider's web. And the whole expedition feeling in general, wimpy as it was for us seniors. (no backpack, sit around and watch J1s suffer) Wah, senior already, zhen1 liao3 bu4 q 3. What's fun about riding in a coach going somewhere with a bunch of people? I dunno, it just is. //As for the bit of nonsense Wen is being forced to endure, I believe that's PHILOSOPHY, origin and foundation of all crap. But of course I can't KNOW that, I only BELIEVE I know that. And I somehow reasoned that out! Wow! Some philosophers aren't totally sure if they really exist. Some people, sadly, agree with these philosophers. How tragic. *sniff*

Wen - 03/10/00 13:40:39

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Just a opening rant first - to those who think comm. studies is common sense - okay read this "Hegelian immanentism becomes historicism, but it is absolute historicism only with the philosophy of praxis - absolute historiscism or absolute humanism." What he ??! HY and HQ, be warned: there are lotsa such gems lurking about waiting for you. Okay now about Belumut I'm glad that we can get along (briefly) with our immediate juniors. The camp was just long enuff that we could interact but not so long that we r n out of things to say. Anyway this trip just reminded me, anyone is planning a trip for next June?

Xinyan - 03/10/00 06:24:43

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Hehe and David Tao is not good looking either ^_^. Yep, I like Sky Wu also, he's so eighties. My sis has this album of David, I dunno whether 1st or 2nd. The entire album sounds continuous, like one whole gigantic song cut into pieces. Good voice and diff rent style from the usual chinese pop, but i dun like the way he enunciates his words. I mean the kind where some of the letters are dropped or added (Hanyu Pinyin). Aiyah dunno how to say.

Anyway Weikai you forever so rich, going alone or with who? And for how long? I was thinking of going to UK, but my travel savings account up till now only got a miserable $400, not even enuff for half a plane ticket...

siwei - 03/10/00 04:42:25

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I meant like which cities...

Siwei - 03/10/00 04:41:12

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Hey Weikai!!
you're coming in June? Aiyah.. such a pity.. cause Jason and I won't be there.... I'm going to be in S'pore for the Mid-course programme.. and i guess Jason is (as usual) on his attachment. But Mar-mar might be, right? He's trying to do this programme cal ed summer start (it's basically summer school for pre-frosh).. talk about kiasu =P *hee hee*... think it starts around the 24th of June or something like that.. ask him. So you can bum over at his place. You should come over during Dec Hols .. that way mo t people will be around (then you can save on accomodation by staying wif us (or whoever else you know.. wherever it is that you're going... ) darn...
Oh well.. which parts of US are you thinking of, anyway?

Weikai - 03/10/00 04:12:25

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Am very pleased to know that this brave attempt at an unconventional BTC proved to be successful. The thought that first came to me when I heard of Belumut BTC was, will they be able to achieve the finest of BTC at a quite unfamiliar place? Seems like they can!
Kit Chan is great, I agree. I love listening to her singing with total surrounding silence, with a headphone. With the song close to your ears then you can really experience the beauty of the voice. Another recommendation I have, is David Tao. Listen to h s first album, that is a much better one than his second. And listen with a headphone/earphone too, for maximum experience.
I have a tour marked on my schedule, I should be going to the states in late June. By that time, Jason and Siwei and US pple should be back already right? Takes away the novelty of visiting them there already I suppose =). But anyway, this June hols is supposedly my last long holiday in my entire life. Naturally, most of my uni batch pple plan to do a major travelling, before chances run out. So me too. Will be primarily stationed in Washington, but should be moving around.

theresa - 03/10/00 02:24:05

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Verbal sparring schmarring. Pooh.
Anyway my opinion (!)(Those things are rampant nowadays, aren't they?) about the cheering thing is, I realised that during OUR btc we didn't know each other enough to burst out into song whenever we felt like it. So the J1s were just in their own way trying to encourage each other. (Like how would they know if the rest knew..er....Sing A Song Of Sixpence or er....whatever weird song they thought of off the top of their worried heads?) The only thing they could be sure of was that they all definitely k ew crappy old Rafflesian cheers.
As for the TC itself, I'd say it was much tougher than normal because they spent the entire second day charging up and down a mountain, whilst we had the luxury of traipsing alingon flat land. The trek was marked by Jeremy's turd-coloured backpack cov r, his extremely useful waterbag, Wenyi's various forms of concrete encouragement (Hershey's chocolate bars, that sorta thing), and continuous yakking all the way up and down (none from me).
The night contained more highlights - the Usual Rude Awakening, followed by a moonless Solo Walk littered with .. ahem!...various partly-dressed batch 13ers. Aside from this brief (ah ha hoo) show of strangeness, it was rather nice talking (for the fi st time?)to our long-lost-unbonded juniors.
Lastly, how fun expeditions are really do depend on who you go with. Missed you guys.
And yes, xinyan, i have actually the same resolution as you.
By the way, Lump Of Turd, it's "where, I, in my usual behaviour, found my knowledge lacking", not "which".

Jason - 03/09/00 15:29:31
My Email:png.gekchye@cornell.edu

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hmm... Siwei, cannot meh? Heh heh... wah.. now got lots of combination for my email address. Anyway, I think my permanent email address is still the SingNet one, unless something happen to SingTel. Choi!


Siwei - 03/09/00 14:57:55
My Email:sy.wei@cornell.edu

Comments:
Hey, Jason.. you copy me go and use name for email address issit?
oh.. Jason and I are going to NYC to watch Rent (musical) next month. It's a long time yet, but I"m kinda looking forward to it.. =) Ever since the first time that I went to NYC, I've been itching to go back again =) Hope we get tickets.

Jason - 03/08/00 19:35:34
My Email:jason.png@cornell.edu

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Yup.. Kit Chan's songs are really good and I am listening to them too = ). If you want some more good songs, then you should get Sky Wu's CD as well. He released his compliation last month and the songs are really good (too bad the compliation does not include ALL the good songs that he had). I always like his songs. And he is not that handsome too, does that mean I got chance too? heehee...

Xinyan - 03/08/00 10:27:35

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Hello! Yes, happy birthday to me and Siwei. hehe long time din dare to come here coz of a resolution i made to myself, tt this year, i'll send bday cards to all the pp i know. but but but....as usual.... They're still sitting in my room (and on my mattr ss and on the table, and on the shelf...). So i was so ashamed. Any more about the Belumut trip? Heard tt lots of batch 13 pp went?

lately, i've taken to listening to Kit Chan. After listening to a compilation album bought recently, I apprehensively went out to buy more. And also the poetry book she published. I din understand her poetry very much, I dun think I'll ever like modern an /or english poetry, they dun rhyme. and they have weird paragraphing. seemed just like prose written in a haphazard way. not like our dear chuang qian ming yue guang, so orderly. but her songs(!) rather, her voice(!) wah! wah! I mean, i knew she was good, but not this good! i encourage all who likes chinese songs to go and buy her albums. she's so rgs (i.e. stylo and charismatic), and she's not even good looking. there's hope for me yet!

hiaz~~~just realised tt all the above rantings were not very "adult" were they? how i wish the "adult age" was not 21. i dun feel adult at all, nono.

Jeremy - 03/08/00 07:58:03

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Well, back from Belumut. I must say that its been a fun trip, physically and mentally tiring, and having verbal sparring with Wen and Josh, which, I, in my usual behaviour, found my knowledge and thinking lacking again.. mmm.. Must say the J1s did pretty well for this expedition. At least for the group that I observed. Their only fault is that they cheer school cheers and don't sing.. Mmm.. perhaps we should go back and encourage them and add to their very limited repertoire of songs. Anyone else interested in going. Now, I've got a tent to wash and sandfly bites to scratch... itchy itchy scratchy scratchy....Anyone in NUS game for swimming on Thursday morning?.. me and Josh meet at 9 am every week. Perhaps if you are free and interested, do come down and join us.

Jeremy - 03/06/00 02:44:17

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Happy Birthdays to both Siwei and Xinyan...

Siwei - 03/05/00 19:52:17
My Email:sy.wei@cornell.edu

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Thanks, Theresa =) (or should I say Ee-ah...)

theresa - 03/05/00 10:04:41

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happy birthday, dear siwei. apologies for the belatedness, my computer finally is on talking terms with me. Hope it was a good one.

Siwei - 03/04/00 06:32:49
My Email:sy.wei@cornell.edu

Comments:
Thanks, Weikai...
And Happy (belated) B'day to Xinyan, too... =)
Haoyang how come you ORD so soon? I thought usually it's in May? But I know people like Marvin already starting to clear leave already, right? =) Yay.... can't wait for you to come over here.. =)

Howie - 03/04/00 03:54:43

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Siwei and Xinyan, wish u 2 a happy 21st birthday!!! ORD loh....

VIVien - 03/02/00 11:55:04

Comments:
XINYAN! Happy 21st Bday Gal...

Weikai - 03/01/00 13:52:29

Comments:
Haoyang suggests yet another gathering this Saturday! Last week's was called off, cos not enough people I think. Tho this week some of us are going off to Belumut, hopefully the rest of us can still make time to turn up. Tentatively, it's 7pm, Dhoby Ghaut MRT.
Those in Belumut then, can give us a call (if you have autoroaming, or you are on GSM1800 which gives free roaming to M'sia).

Wen - 03/01/00 06:32:09

Comments:
Looking forward to Belumut, just hope we don't embarass ourselves with our sub-standard fitness. Really miss tramping around in the jungle with a backpack in those good old days of.....army??! JC I meant.

Siwei - 02/25/00 18:35:01
My Email:sy.wei@cornell.edu

Comments:
I dit...I dit... I dit taw dat...

Alvin - 02/24/00 20:32:20

Comments:
Wouldn't have noticed that anyday

Jer - 02/24/00 12:12:06

Comments:
Joshie the English Teacher strikes again..

Joshua - 02/23/00 16:59:17

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Oops...should've been he'd, not he'll. *blush*

Joshua - 02/23/00 16:58:15

Comments:
Beeg Brother ees watching. Come to think of it, the ISA might have recruited Wenyi already. But he'll never tell us, would he.

Siwei - 02/23/00 14:20:01
My Email:sy.wei@cornell.edu

Comments:
You're most welcome, my dear =)
I'd like to think that I know my little kiddos well...

Wen - 02/23/00 13:55:08

Comments:
Thanks for having so much faith in me, gramps.

Siwei - 02/22/00 20:02:45

Comments:
Errmm.... I don't think you need to take what Wen write too seriously, Huaquan... it seemed to me like he was just babbling some nonsense off the top of his head ...

HQ - 02/22/00 16:46:33

Comments:
HEY!... It's not like I just PLAY my Off days/Weekends away noe... ... actually had a very nasty entry all typed out and ready to send but...tot otherwise upon re-reading it... just take it as I had the choice but I opted to be out...

Wen - 02/22/00 13:05:13

Comments:
Hey HQ you're such a slug. I don't believe it. Next 3/4 weekends gone and you STILL don't want to come out with us????! Hmmmm.... conspiracy theorist at work here.....let's see...... mebbe the Army burns your weekends so much because they know YOU'LL ONLY WASTE THEM PLAYING GAMES? It's entirely possible, you know. The ISA reports your favourite activities, your superiors say," Hmm. No girlfriend. No close friends that he goes out with often. Not much hobbies. Spend weekends at home, alone, quiet, playing c mputer or sleeping. Okay, put him down for weekend duties on so and so days." Food for thought, yeah?

HQ - 02/20/00 13:12:26

Comments:
Apologise for not turning up last nite... it's just tt the flow of events just happened to overwhelm me. Had yet another tough week outfield altho I slept more than the last, but I had to do much more during my waking hours... It's always onli when I look back tt I regret missing gatherings [sounds so cliche]... especially since they're getting rarer and rarer. For 3 out of the next 4 weekends I'll be in-camp... you Uni pple are having exams or sth rite? Hope you guys enjoy the Belumut trip...

Shiyin - 02/18/00 16:41:27

Comments:
I also cannot go coz got to go home for yuan2 xiao1 jie2 ... my mum already specially called me up to tell me to go home Anyway... Happy Birthday to the Feb babies!

Viv - 02/17/00 16:33:19

Comments:
Sorry to be so 'shao xing'..but i can't go on Sat leh..Yuan xiao..gotta go home for dinner...oh, b4 i forget..i better say this first..happy bday HY! Enjoy urselves on sat ok?

Weikai - 02/17/00 09:23:22

Comments:
A reminder from Haoyang to the rest of us, we're going out this Sat. For the February babies, including Haoyang himself! Take a note of it, refer to the his entry below for details, and try to go for it, thanx.
And I'm sorry, I'm not going for Belumut. Enjoy yourselves, those going.

Siwei - 02/15/00 20:13:22
My Email:sy.wei@cornell.edu

Comments:
I thought that yuan2 xiao1 jie2 is supposed to be for your "significant other"? i thought it was kind of like the chinese version of V-day? Or am I just showing my ignorance here? =P

Shiyin - 02/15/00 18:25:04

Comments:
er... isn;t Sat yuan2 xiao1 jie2 ??? i thought supposed to eat dinner with family one??

Howie - 02/13/00 14:37:58

Comments:
this sat evening, lets meet up for a dinner gathering? it'll be say 8pm? venue is I'm thinking Holland V? How's that? Ok, meanwhile that'll be the place ok? hope to see more of u pple ok?...especially those that have been real busy...u are sorely missed... anyway...hope that valentines' day is not too sucky for most of you pple as it is for us NS pple...for those who don't have a date....don't be deceiving urselves by telling urself it's also a day for family, old frds etc...in a way..yes...but...haha...we ll noe it...best time to go on a single/bachelor/spinster rendevous to whine abt our silly empty love lives...haha... just a suggestion...but it can be warpedly therapeutic....well...take care ...see u guys soon?..

Jeremy - 02/09/00 08:04:31

Comments:
The photos are on the e-circles. Anyway, to check again, who's going to Belumut?... Can mail me your Name, Address, NRIC, Blood Group, Med History, Passport/IC No, Contact Nos, NOK details....

Siwei - 02/07/00 19:29:21

Comments:
Err.... where are the photos that you posted, Haoyang?

Jason - 02/07/00 18:43:15

Comments:
Haoyang, those photos were taken in Wen's place, not Jeremy's. Yup yup.. post more photos, I will like to see them.

- 02/07/00 14:25:11

Comments:
finally put my scanner to some use.. posted some pictures of the previous gathering we had last year at Jeremys... I believe some of u ordered the photos but din get them... somewhere in my drawer.... anyway...hope u guys like them... will continue to post some more in future..

Siwei - 02/07/00 13:04:37

Comments:
Hello... Just in case anyone is bored enough with the boring background in your browser, andyou want to skin it, go check out this place which has some rather nice ones (I think). It's Hotbar (I hope my html works here... I m not sure I remembered the code correctly..)
Yes.. this is the sort of nonsense that I do over here.. when I'm not doing my work, which is most of the time.. =P

Wen - 02/07/00 08:46:24

Comments:
Hey people, those going to BTC should mail their details to the juniors as soon as possible. Just a reminder.

Jason - 02/06/00 18:13:54

Comments:
Sorry to confuse anyone... but there is some error if you download with Netscape. Dunno why. So just use Internet Explorer, left click on the links. You still need RealPlayer. Forget about what I said in the previous message.

Jason - 02/06/00 17:53:27

Comments:
hi guys, I managed to compress the video clip into very small size at the expense of image quality. It's now in RealMedia format, which means you need the RealPlayer to view it. Okay, here're the links: - Take1 (1,238 kb)
Take2 (1,069 kb)
Chinese New Year Greeting (same as the one below.  609 kb)
It's the same as the previous, just right click and choose "Save Links As". Songhai, you can try again = )
okie... back to work...

Shiyin - 02/06/00 16:14:31

Comments:
Oh no!!!! I did it again!!!!! just created the CNY mood with all the red words!! paiseh!! sorry!!!

Shiyin - 02/06/00 16:11:39

Comments:
Happy New Year!!! Collect lots of Ang baos!!

Siwei - 02/06/00 08:22:12

Comments:
Hello one and all... =)
Yes.. if you have a fast enough internet connection, do go check out the video recording. =) Jason spent quite a lot of time fooling around trying to figure out how to cut the different segments and put them altogether. Admittedly it's not as "candid" as he originals, which have a lot of "fei4 hua4" in them, but I still think he did a pretty good job. And his software is very temperamental.. so we actually had alot of trouble getting it to work. So appreciate his effort !! =)
well.. seriously hope that you all had a good CNY, got a lot of angpows.. got to see relatives that you haven't seen in donkey years.. etc... HAve a good year ahead !!

Jason - 02/06/00 07:21:22

Comments:
uh oh... got grammar mistake...

Jason - 02/06/00 07:19:00

Comments:
Hi all, Happy New Year again!
Siwei and I have a surprise for everyone =)
We recorded our Chinese New Year Greetings into a video clip. It is edited from several recordings that we made. You can right click on the link and choose "Save Link As" Be prepared for a long download time cos it is 10.6MB big. Sorry about the size, but this is the sma lest that I can reduce it to without affecting the contents (curious???)

Comments:
Happy Chinese New Year! Happy belated Birthday Chunda!

Alvin - 02/05/00 14:14:57

Comments:
Hi every1! Played Mahjong last night and won lots in my very first game of the Dragon Yr! 5 tai self pick =) Oh, wishing every1 Happie CNY!

Jason - 02/04/00 18:52:26

Comments:
The clock is only updated when you switch the time zone so that you will be encouraged to switch the time zones... (grin)... actually, I don't know the reason either...did badly for my JAVA, so cannot explain...

The "go back to my homestead" link is not working bacause it's pointing to side.html and not conv.html... so you will get 2 Kennys when you follow it...

Jason - 02/04/00 18:43:38

Comments:
HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR!

Howie - 02/04/00 16:05:23

Comments:
HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR EVERYBODY!!!!.... collect lotsa angpows...play mahjong, wear those flashy new clothes that u've shopped so hard for...and just take care ok? all the best, dear friends....

Penny - 02/04/00 11:02:46

Comments:
Hey, Chunda, isn't Chinese New Year your birthday too? Or thereaouts anyway? Happy 21st Birthday. And happy chinese new year to the rest of you!

Chunda - 02/04/00 04:05:59

Comments:
Here's wishing everybody a happy Chinese New Year! May this be a year when your hopes and dreams are fulfilled.

HQ - 02/02/00 16:06:28

Comments:
I believe SMS=Short Message Service... and since we were asking questions... anybody noes why the clock is onli updated[when 1st load up the page] if I change the Zone to something else and then back again? Me will not be seeing daylight after CNY due to the super-tight exercise schedule to come... will be lucky to have my 1.5 days in between exercises [sometimes not even on the weekends] to come home to wash my uniforms... till the end of March after my Army Evaluation thingy... wish me luck...=(

Siwei - 02/02/00 00:20:13

Comments:
Another question..
everytime I post an entry and click on the "go back to my homestead" link (or whatever it's called), it brings me back to the conv page but instead of showing the entries, it shows me two of the Kennys and the Quad Clocks... And I have to either refresh o close the browser and open again, to make the entries come back. IT's happened alot of times already.. anyone knows why?

Siwei - 02/02/00 00:17:14

Comments:
What's an SMS message, actually?

Jason - 02/01/00 22:04:40

Comments:
hmm... i can cook lah.. but only for my own consumption... (must hide in one corner so that no one can see what I am eating... ) managed to survive through my winter break without eating out... basically eat rojak everyday, either dump anything that I ca find in the freezer into soup or fried rice... I enjoyed the cooking but it takes up too much time... most prob won't get off meal plan this semester cos I am half an arts student this semester = ) I'm taking a writing seminar on the Political Economi of SE Asia and a class on War and Diplomacy in Korea... the people in these class talks about a lot of cheem stuff that I never knew and I had to do tonnes of reading every night to catch up with them... not to mention I've just started my first EE lab ourse which will guarantee me a few sleepless nights... alright.. enough of my complains.. guess everyone similar ones as well... shall not take up space here

Comments:
Hey, Siwei, even if no one wants to cook, you can still have a reunion dinner.. just go out and eat somewhere.. I'll be having a reunion dinner this year, thankfully, with the people staying in the same flat as me.. sort of potluck thing, as in each bring his/her own dish. And courtesy of Weikai, I'll be making Emperor Chicken, yipee!! Ooi, Jason, how can you not learn how to cook??? Must learn, especially homeccoked food kind.. curry chicken, chicken rice etc. Then can go impress a lot of people.. Hey, I also want to be sent an SMS message, but eh, I don't know how... maybe someone can try and tell me? =)

Siwei - 02/01/00 07:15:06

Comments:
Hey Penny.. i never DID say that you were chasing Wing Git all over the house... but now we know, don't we? Hee hee.. why so defensive? =) but I'm sure that during that few nights (or however long that Suzhen was there), he missed his nice "cuddly double- ed" (Alvin's words, not mine... hehe)
Well.. Alvin, you aren't going to be the only one mising on hongbaos. Moi aussi !!! *sigh*...maybe if there are enough people who are interested, I'll see if anyone over here is game for cooking our own reunion dinner.. Too bad Jason can't cook lah, other ise I would have invited him over for dinner more often than I have this semester. =P Ask him.. he was soooo glad when mealplan came back on, so that he didn't have to cook every meal. And to think that he wants to get off mealplan this semester.. I think he can spend all his spare time in the kitchen oredi.. hee hee.. =) How, Jason? decide already or not?
well.. it's presently 2:13 am.. I really ought to be doing my work and considering that I have a french test the day after (and I haven't studied and won't have the time to study tomorrow night cause I'll be spending 3+ hours at dance), I really don't kno what I'm doing here. But I just can't get down to doing work. From the looks of my ICQ contact list, Jason is prob still awake too.. stupid college life.. forever not enough sleep one.. *sigh*.. oh well..
I'm rambling again... (so what's new...). I think I ought go. Everyone take care and enjoy your CNY dinner =)
ta...

Alvin - 01/31/00 13:56:40

Comments:
Hey, thanks to everyone for testing out my phone sms service! =) Sorrie Weikai & Sywei, but couldn't read your msgs cos of some problem... maybe if you send it in plain & easy text, cos I got lots of symbols and the sender's email only =)
Hmmm... Ididn't see the kinky smurfy toy. But Penny has a nice house wif a nice comfortable couch (personal experience), so I'm sure Winggit wasen't too unhappy.
I'll be missing out on lots of angpows for the 2nd yr running... Last yr I was on CNY duty, got arrowed cos I was the first in the unit to disrupt =) Really quite xian that I'll have to go back to army for 8 more months after graduation, but I'll be spen ing most of it on course anyway. Have the Officers gotten their 2nd bar yet?? V-day coming soon, can start planning for that special evening? Better start making reservations now b4 it's too late!

Penny - 01/31/00 11:45:27

Comments:
Hehe, looks like I need to clear my name... yup, Suzhen did use the word kinky, but my smurf's not kinky!! In fact, it's rather cute, though it has hearts all over it, and it can vibrate when you pull a string.. =) Oii, and Siwei, I wasn't chasing Wing Gi all over the house lah! Just that Suzhen was coming to stay with me, so I chased Wing Git off his bed, to the couch... nothing more to it...

Siwei - 01/30/00 18:40:31

Comments:
yes you did... hee hee.. I was surprised too.. =)
well... Seems like Feb is a very happening month. For those of you with Valentines, hope you have an incredibly romantic day/night (aaawwww....). And yes.. enjoy your CNY. Hope everyone gets lotsa angpows. We won't be getting them for all that much longer I think. (well.. then again.. that depends on who we're talking about, I'll prob be getting them till I'm thirty plus or so.. and probably to the exasperation of my poor mother, ... )
well... time to do work. Taa....

Jeremy - 01/30/00 16:31:22

Comments:
Did I just see Suzhen spout the word "kinky"?...

HQ - 01/30/00 16:14:54

Comments:
Just so happened tt I was free and full of energy this Sat... thus I decided to pop down and join the present batch for their Bt Timah/MacRitc Hike... Spent the morning walking circles in MacRitc b4 walking over & up to Bt Timah hill. Really enjoyed it al ho it was quite weird being ard a batch tt I didn't noe at all. Yet we were still able to talk abt ODAC, the things we did/do, Mr Tay, etc. really brings back fond memories. got me thinking lots. got me wondering if they still meet up at the 'ODAC Table' very morning, if they still meet to climb in the evenings, if they still ran round the track with the tents to dry them, if they still have a 'Conversations Bk'... so much of which I would luv to re-live... if onli I had the time

Howie - 01/30/00 14:03:57

Comments:
ok...January's almost done, we had a pretty quiet get-together at milano's pizza. Bad service. Little substandard food. And haha...a plate of spaghetti plus a lemon tea costs more than a buffet!!! We are just warming up guys... Know that it feels pretty o d to celebrate ur birthdays when it's all over...but it's a pretty good reason for all of us to get together. Besides, I think it's gonna get harder to get together after this year...coz there really won't be any more lobos (NSFs or otherwise)and marv and CD are going overseas too...so the pple in spore are gonna dwindle even further...

Soon we're all gonna rush into Uni, and do our minor disappearing acts, plus getting to know a few more "ordinary frds" and then others are gonna graduate in prob 2 more years....

So February's another month with lotsa birthdays...and we all prob dun wanna gather on CNY or Valentine's day...say mebbe 3rd week of Feb? 19th Feb to be exact...that's the tentative date for a next get-together?...hope to see more pple ok? will try to ma e the place better lar... mebbe Lips cafe? haha...but it's a nice place..

Oh yeah one more thing...I was hoping that we could get signatures and lil birthday greetings from those overseas...as in u guys write a little something, sign and scan it then mail it over or post it over e-circles? coz we can add it into the b-day cards that we have... Try it guys? it'd be so much better compared to a word processed greeting. ok. till the next. And have a prosperous blessed CNY ok?

SUzhen - 01/30/00 05:20:19
My Email:taysc@uclink4.berkeley.edu

Comments:
Hi people, thanks a lot for the X'mas card, I just received it. Very nice of you guys. And I have to say a very belated HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Vivien. Hey girl, I miss you, hope everything has been going well for you. I will be back in June! And by the way, Penny has a real kinky Smurf soft toy! Haha...

theresa - 01/28/00 17:06:34

Comments:
hi tomorrow's thing is at 7.30pm CITY HALL MRT . I hope to queue for breek's. plan B will be milano's at funan centre. Anything call pp with handphones.

Alvin - 01/28/00 12:44:53

Comments:
Oops.... Didn't know that h3 would turn out so big... hee... so paiseh =)

Alvin - 01/28/00 12:43:36
My Email:woof34@hotmail.com

Comments:
Hi every1! Just got a new handphone! Penny was very nice and went with me to queue up for it =) Anyway, you can email my phone at

woof34@sms.genie.co.uk

Comments:
Do something "to" me? Not "for" me ah? hehe, anyway prob not going, when must hand in new replies by? coz right after the hols will be a series of impt tests. have fun then, hope it doesn't rain.

Wen - 01/27/00 16:21:27

Comments:
Guess I can still go but if all of you people aren't going then there's no point, is there? So how? NUS people?

Siwei - 01/26/00 22:56:58

Comments:
Is BTC a little late this year? Just asking... I'm not sure I remember very well.. but I've always had the impression that it was earlier.. Nmind.. just curious...
oh.. so ix Xinyan going for BTC? Must do something to her then... =P

Jeremy - 01/26/00 16:57:35

Comments:
My point is...who is going now, and who isn't?..Just asking..

Jeremy - 01/26/00 16:55:44

Comments:
Hey people... Belumut's been shifted to 4/5 of March... That's one week after the NUS break..and the 2nd weekend of the NTU break...and a normal weekend for the army people.. and well... erm.. dunno about the overseas ppl..

Jeremy - 01/26/00 06:02:48

Comments:
Oh mi goodness, wat's happn'd t'ya. Ya've tarned inta a munsta ere last I saw yer.

Wen - 01/25/00 18:19:58

Comments:
I slept a child and woke an adult. Wow. Now I miss the good old days....

Xinyan - 01/25/00 16:19:25

Comments:
hehe, hello theresa! yep, would rather spend time keeping old friends than making new ones, anyway, too lazy now.

theresa - 01/25/00 16:14:18

Comments:
Was supposed to print the announcement in bold, but i think there is now no need. Don't be late okay!

I was just thinking recently that 2 years have passed since we left JC, i.e. we have spent more time out of JC than in it. And that led me to think, w could have been busy making a memory within that time, that could parallel the experience, rather than constantly reminiscing about those days. If you know what i mean. (not that we do or that it is bad). But as somebody tells me, we need to spend time k eping those friends in the first place rather than making new ones everywhere. So i guess it's a compromise and a matter of choice. I'm sure some of us Did have a very fruitful past-2-years. I just want to point out that we have lots of time to do many m ny things and we shouldn't waste it.
Anyway, have a good year, wenyi.

Xinyan - 01/25/00 16:10:38

Comments:
Yeah, yeah jeremy, revenge yourself on me, hehehe. oops, Wen, guess i'll have to give out another late bday card again, hehe :O), hey penny! wat were odac photos doing up there???

Jeremy - 01/24/00 16:58:51

Comments:
HAPPY BIRTHDAY WEN!

Penny - 01/24/00 12:38:34

Comments:
Just went for something called Raffles Nite over the weekend, and I think I kind of miss you all now.. Saw so many people there, both from rgs and rj. Then there was this video show where they showed scenes of school life etc. Oh, and there were odac photos in the slideshow, know the ones that we took after school someday? The one with the girls at the wall, and the guys at the pull- up bars, revealing their erm, muscles? =) And there was footage of Se-Hsieng in sec 2 or something, and of Theresa(!) with her rj orientation group, and of Carmee Lim dancing/singing/exercising/ hehe.. And there was someone rockclimbing, though can't see who it is, and the bookshop uncle in rj... think I'm rambling. But point is, it did bring back a lot of memories, and eh, hope to see you all real soon.. July sounds quite soon rite? Doesn't it??..

theresa - 01/24/00 08:37:02

Comments:
hi i discovered i can do this from my chem lab! whoohoo! and the screen is quite big too, so must make this fast. yes i was just directly quoting hq who was quoting hoayang. next time i shall be careful. And I think male perfumes are much nicer, female pe fumes are always stinky.

Weikai - 01/24/00 06:18:01

Comments:
I was amused too when Haoyang mentioned "Singapore time" some entries ago, then realised that was for you overseas people to call us and wish the Jan babies happy birthday. Then I was thinking, thankfully I didn't comment on this else I will be damn malu! Harhar Siwei you had the honour.
I think about stuffs Xinyan thinks about too, but not before I sleep, and not lingering in my mind either. I put em in the back of my mind after a while.

Siwei - 01/24/00 01:09:33

Comments:
Hee hee.. I"m mildly amused at Theresa's entry that you guys are meeting at 8 pm Singapore time.. I mean.. anyone who's going is presumably in Singapore.. and I suppose anyone in Singapore would presume that it was Singapore time.
But nevermind.. this is Siwei picking up on the most useless things in the world, as usual.. I wonder why I'm not half as astute when writing my government papers.. *sigh*...

Jeremy - 01/23/00 17:14:17

Comments:
Xinyan, I really dunch know what to say than to go... What were you doing looking for male deoderant for yourself?

Comments:
Yep, prob can't go Belumut now, but have to wait for the chairperson's confirmation. No, Jeremy, i meant I was meek towards a very bullying sales person, not tt i expect pp to be meek! Want to hear my story? hehe.

Well i was shopping for deodorant one day at this very very run down supermart in boon lay, and there was this very very ah soh looking salesperson standing near the shelves, with the liang simei dressing if u know who i'm referring to. I was taking a very long time choosing, coz I couldn't f nd the one I was using (the Gilette one given free by the big walk or some other event).

she ah, dunno standing there to help pp or to guard her wares, prob both, and she was making me very uncomfortable coz she was staring very hard at me. then final y she came up to me and asked, "what you looking for, deodorant for male or female?" in mandarin. i was like, "ah...sui2 bian4", because gilette is for males and i'm a female, and i was trying to think of what to say (buy for female but want a male deodor nt???). then she looked incredulously at me and frowned and said "dao di shi mai gei shui?", and then i carried on, "ah...", she was really fed up, both my ahhs took about 1 second, dun ask me why she was fed up. so she went, "haiyah! shi bu shi mai gei n zi ji, hai shi mai gei bie ren, na ge ren is nan de hai shi nu de? ze yang ye yao xiang de meh?" So i was like, "ah....nan de! nan de!" and then she asked me for my budget for tt person. i said $5. she then "advised" me to buy some branded "de toilet" st ff tt were selling for $17. (wat's the point of asking for my budget then??!!) i asked for cheaper alternatives, anyway i wasn't looking for cologne, but how to tell her now i'm the one using after i said buying for a guy? then she insisted on spraying th product on me. i tot test deodorant is test a small spot on your hand one, but she proceeded to spray it on my forearm. i'm not exaggerating when i say i left the store with my whole forearm smelling of 4 different smells. anyway, i din like anything she sprayed on me, coz all cologne, den i think she figured tt i was actually buying for myself, coz she suddenly switched to a "flower" one. the "flower" ones were still too strong for me, so i rejected all.

i think by now she was really pissed with me, ut sales people are not supposed to be like tt right? after that she still dun want to give up, mebbe coz she's bored, the whole day only got me as a customer, so she asked me to go to another shelf for some more(!!) deodorants. i din want to go so i hesi ated, so she was like really irritated and said, "here! come!" and then marching off leaving me at the shelf. i followed meekly <= this is the point of time in this adventure when i felt meek, jeremy. anyway, more testing followed (she sprayed into the ca s instead of onto my arm, thank god!), and i rejected all and went off.

i was more amused by the situation than angry with tt woman. however, tt's not how things are supposed to be. i'm really preoccupied with wat the right way that things tu n out should be, so i laid awake on my bed, thinking and rehearsing a million different reactions, in case(!) it happens to me again, sigh....which it most prob will, and i'll most prob be meek again, sigh....

theresa - 01/23/00 15:10:34

Comments:
i hope this comes out bold. On behalf of the organiser: "We'll be meeting at 8pm Singapore time at City Hall MRT, to go for a late dinner at Breeks Marina on 29th January"

Jeremy - 01/23/00 10:39:28

Comments:
I was awake at that hour...:)

Wen - 01/23/00 10:28:32

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Sheesh, you guys think WAY too much. Xinyan, just frown a lot and smile a lot alternately, soon you'll get wrinkles. Wear heels, put makeup. Think Liang Po Po. Then you'll be treated like you're twice your age. And btw, I may no longer be able to go Belum t since it's now in term time ( for NTU people ), but since it's neatly within the weekend and I have no more saturday lessons it is still vaguely possible. Why can't people do their thinking during waking hours????

Jeremy - 01/23/00 02:51:06

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Nice to hear that Xinyan has not given up her "hermit" views yet. I guess perhaps you're right in that people want to receive what they think they deserve. I would be feeling very lousy if people started treating me like a kid all over again. Dun really h ve any advice other than the usual.

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The times that I'm kept awake are times when I feel insufficient in a person-to-person interaction, when things dun go my way or when after that I keep thinking there are things that ought to have been done. For eg., i should have done something horrible o a salesperson when he/she was rude instead of being meek, blah blah. And when I need to request things from people but fail to, eg. Ask for refund, etc.

I keep asking myself if someone else would have been more capable and am i being a failure as a erson. Have any of you felt that way b4? As in failing to do something and thinking someone else would have done much better? The older I grow the more i feel a need for people's respect, esp when i don't look my age. It's not the asking for people's appr val kind of respect but the basic respect tt people give their equal. i feel like half a person because i look half my age. how? how? will i still encounter the same kind of difficulties at age 30? now i remember why i tot society is so damn troublesome..

Jeremy - 01/22/00 17:26:16

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Nice to read Howie's statement about his experience. Yes.. that's happened to me before, and you wonder at the level of honesty that people can share, and then you get amazed at the deepness of the level of friendship that you all have.

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Well I'm not so sure these insurance guys believe so firmly about what they sell..... have you ever asked them if they've insured every darned thing of theirs? Or those aromatherapy hawkers for that matter, do they really believe in it? Hmm and I have no penings in my head, religious or otherwise. Isn't that a sign of mad cow disease or something? Even though I would like to claim some self-awareness, I must admit nothing has ever kept me from sleeping :) Hey Howie sometimes it's good to be reflective, mo t of the time it's better to be dreaming. Since you can't make everyone happy, how about starting from yourself. No need to let others' criticisms and opinions dictate your personal growth overmuch. And better be careful of that long hard look, I think mo t people will be pretty scared and disillusioned if they looked at themselves long and hard enough. Sniff some essential oils ( that what you call it? ), lay off the coffee and the thinking, and get some good sleep - a good sleep beats just about any amou t of thinking for peace of mind and happiness.

Howie - 01/21/00 20:05:19

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glad to be back, to be able to read the new entries...it's almost a ritual....we've done all the lamenting abt how we are aging tremendously, no doubt that it will continue, and now the army guys are actually in the ORD mood...there is probably no better ndicator of how fast time is passing us by than the impending ORD and the fact that some of us are actually gonna graduate soon and join the workforce as a contributing member of the economy....it's really been 2years...it's my 2nd anniversary since i wen into BMT...

we all gripe where-ever we are, coz there always will be problems....I gripe abt the army and it's supremely wayang system, i gripe abt how difficult it is to to do sales and marketing (btw , i am now an independent distributor of a French environmental p oduct, contrary to what most pple tink it is, being an aromatherapy product...so dun be surprised if i try to pop u a sale or pass u my namecard....)and i now have a new sense of healthy respect for insurance agents and sales pple...who forge ahead daily nowing that rejections come quick and brutal, yet they firmly believe in what they are selling.....i noe...it's an uphill battle...but there's plenty to be learnt...and all this i find pretty interesting...

u all ever had a certain day where some pple (ur frds, loved ones or just strangers )just talked or shared stuff with u?...it could be in the form of criticsm or just casual flow of opinions...what i'm asking is whether u ever had it so strongly that u re kept awake all night ruminating even tho u're not on caffeine?... I sometimes get that ...especially if it's something that was a direct shot at me...or some religious opening in ur mind...or somebody impt...those things keep me wide awake...and it's j st today that i actually had a mini-hotseat thingee...with yours truly on the hot-seat...i was not bombarded...but i was subject to some heavy criticsm and exposed my character flaws and etc etc...I am condescending in the way i speak to my platoon-mates? ..it appears to be...and that i'm a terrible ass-dragger...or idler....well...i'm not really afraid to put all this down here..or rather i am...in fact i'm terribly self-conscious to the point that i might freak out from the insecurity...
but it's making me take a long hard look at myself...and i don't really want to be afraid of making mistakes anymore...i tink being honest would be instrumental in my "reform"....and i can't get to sleep tonite i tink...i guess pple who reflect deeply and desire to have self-awareness might have come across such situations before...u just don't articulate it so often...I don't think i have bored u, in anycase u would have anticipated a long ,typical verbose howie entry and skipped it waybefore hand... if u ve made it here, thanks...really appreciate u for bearing with me and my "moments"....God Bless U all...dearly...Howie

Joshua - 01/21/00 06:07:19

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I'm feeling quite happy in skool thank you. Never again will I be so lobo, at least for the forseeable future. Like, if I survive till retirement I will have more free time than I know wat to do wif, otherwise skool is our LAST CHANCE to SLACK so SLACK NO or forever work your ass off. (Sorry, engineers and meddies. You already started doing the latter) Anyway if I don't make it to retirement somebody will most likely owe me a buck. Put it in my urn, Wen.

Siwei - 01/20/00 02:07:44

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This sounds like a long piece of "wenyi-nonsense" to me.. but it's interesting nonetheless... =P
anyway.. not very much point of writing and not reading? s'okay.. I think i'll just put up with feeling envious once in a while.. =P

Wen - 01/19/00 16:14:28

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Ya I'll be going for the 29th thing. Siwei if reading conv makes it worse then...maybe just write and don't read? Bet you won't have the discipline to do that. And HQ....what you're doing now always feels the worst...when studying for 'A's I thought I'll e happier in army, while in army I was desparate to disrupt, now that I'm in school I get ( very midly ) envious of my army mates who are in a very lobo phase now.... everyday chio me to play pool in the middle of a weekday. So I guess you've just gotta t ink positive and remember how sucky life was when you had to worry about exams and studying desparately. ( Is that considered thinking positively? ) Imagine long school days, lotsa work, lousy exam questions, screwy grades, big projects with long deadline always looming over your life, extremely retarded subject registration system etc. Feeling better about army already? Just work, rest, and when you're out you're totally carefree. Who the hell am I kidding here anyway????

Jeremy - 01/18/00 01:33:02

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The birthday celebs will be on the 29th...meet at 8 pm... We'll be going to Breeks Marina for dinner... all the meat eaters can pig out then... mm..then coffee..hehe favourite passtime...

Siwei - 01/17/00 20:02:45

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Aiyah.. Xinyan.. this sort of thing need to ask one meh? "use blain" also can tell what.. =P

Xinyan - 01/17/00 15:50:31

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Hi, greed won. Will report here if I actually got money from MS.....

Xinyan - 01/17/00 08:47:00

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Hello. WHAT TRIAL MARRIAGE?? What sleep on the sofa sleep on the bed?? what what?? tell me!!!

Did I say I'm going to Belumut? I told the chairperson oredi. And did youall receive this e-mail about how microsoft will pay u $234 for each person u forward a mail to, blah, blah , blah?? At first I was very sceptical, but it was sent by my NTU lecturer !!! With contact numbers and everything. In the end I still din forward to anyone lah. Wonder how much money I'm missing out on.....The "original" (dunno who, so many bloody names and addresses) person said he/she earned $234,000 or something like tt lah. should i, should I, hehehe, but goes against logic leh, see if 100,000 pp do this, they have to pay more than 200 million dollars. sigh, logic against greed......wat a dilemma

Siwei - 01/16/00 21:26:57
My Email:sl150@cornell.edu

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Yeah.. well... in reply to what Huaquan said... I know that I'm lucky to be able to study overseas, to get my own allowance and all. I'm definitely not complaining. In fact, I'm very thankful for it. NEvertheless, what I said previously still holds true. Oney and travelling isn't everything. I've found out that what makes a holiday is not so much where you go as who you go with. I don't remember if I mentioned that I went to Boston (MIT) to visit Zuohao and co during this fall break. Well.. despite the fa t that I've been to Boston before and that I was only there for about 3 - 4 days, it was one of the best holidays that I've ever had since coming to the US. It was REALLY nice to be spending the hols with old friends, with whom I felt completely comfortab e. I do have friends over here in Cornell, but they'll never be the same as the ones I made in JC/RGS. There have been times when I've had problems and there wasn't anyone that I felt I could really confide in, whom I felt entirely comfortable with. And i wasn't as if I knew thatI could just go to school the next day, or call up some good friend to talk it away. I know that I'm stuck in this place for 9 months at a stretch. And it felt really horrible, having to keep it inside.
ok.. nmind.. I'm not trying to sound pitiful or something.. but it was just something that I wanted to say... studying overseas has plenty of advantages, but you don't have to be some socially-maladjusted creature to feel the effects of being away from ho e.=P

Weikai - 01/16/00 14:21:28

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Real sorry to say this, but, can keep me on the TENTATIVE list for Belumut? Thanx.....
Would love to go down to school for a look on Wednesday, but I got lessons til 4+. Maybe I can make it down and catch them all tired out after PT. And no doubt Yvonne can pose as a J1...she still has it....I don't think I do!
The Jan Bday thing, issit gonna be on 29th, or 22nd? Cos 29th I can make it, but not 22nd.

W - 01/16/00 14:14:17

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Jeremy - 01/16/00 13:53:34

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Okie ppl... anyone local interested in visiting the J1s this Wednesday?... They'll be having a skills session... First Aid, Medical Evacuation, Knots and Lashings, Physical Conditioning...mmm..maybe 6 hours of Physical Conditioning?....Maybe I shall just o some rockclimbing...Yvonne's dressing as a J1...haha

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Envious?.. actually am pretty envious of all you goons abroad, enjoying your 'independent' lives. Doing watever ya want and having the cash to do it too. Visiting places I can onli dream of ever going... [on you own some more!] Was really feeling the brun of the "boring-army-bachelor-life".. [partly HY's fault actually] Really hope to be meeting some of ya next week... [wat was everybody busy with this weekend anyway?] Will have precious few weekends to spare from Feb onwards. Just happens tt I'll be spen ing the Belumut weekend at Lim Chu Kang.>sigh<

Siwei - 01/16/00 08:12:29

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Hello everyone...
I'm back from my travelling and all.. (actually I came back two days ago...). Been reading all the entries on the Conv.. and I can't believe it's already been a while year since the previous BTC... wow.. time really, really flies.. and hearing all you guy make plans for Christmas, for BTC etc.. wow... do you know that the only times when I wish i were home are the times when I'm reading the conv and I hear about all the things that you guys are doing together back home. MAkes me so envious...
Anyway... do you guys realise that it's more than two years since we graduated? We're technically J5s... wow... (yes.. i know I'm wowing at alot of things...) but it's just hard to believe. And for those people whom I didn't see over the summer.. that mea s that I haven't seen you guys for about 1 1/2 years already.. or more... can you imagine? and last time in school, we met up almost everyday.... but I think it's great that Batch 12 is still pretty much together.. I'm looking forward to meeting you guys gain over summer. Although I might not see the UK people.. cause I might be coming back to Cornell in later June to do summer school.. oh no.. Alvin.. that means that i won't see you for 2 1/2 years at a stretch...*sigh*
oh btw.. Penny.. nice to hear that your "trial marriage" is going fine.. hee... did he complain to you when you made him sleep on the sofa when Xin'ai and Suzhen went over? I heard that from Linky during the ski trip.. and I also heard that he was shuttli g between two places every night during the ski trip.. heee.... =P
well.. shall not ramble too much.. everyone take care... and I'll write again soon. Jason and I have both scanned in our holiday photos.. do you all wanna see them? =P
bye bye..

Jeremy - 01/14/00 06:05:05

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Ok... so much for the 4 day "par avion" mail service... It took so so long for them to receive their cards..oh nevermind..

HQ - 01/13/00 22:04:04

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With the 'ON' pple more or less settled down in their Uni=life... you can see them getting 'restless' oredi... turning back to the ONE GREAT CLUB that got us all together in the first place. Would really luv to join the new batch in going thru the 'ODAC E perience', but am pressently, disgustingly bogged down by my military life. Hope tt you guys will go to 'their' ODAC activities with not-so-heavy-a-heart. It's just one of those things not to be tot too deeply into... not tt you should go without thinking how your presence could affect things. Yes, I noe it sounds contradicting. BUT.. personally, I would try to 'help out' [after all, we do have some experience in 'ODAC'], yet try to allow them to 'grow' themselves. [the part of finding out how to do things in ODAC is just as impt a part as any...rite?] Most imptly of all, go with an open heart, make friends and be merry =)

Xinyan - 01/13/00 12:37:51

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Got a qn to ask: What's the diff between 1st party and 3rd party SDRAM? And how come dun have 2nd party Ram one? Yep, I know the present chairperson's quite zai, went to Nepal when she was 14 w/o any chaperon or something like tt, but has to be more than coincidence tt pp keep choosing chairpersons with the same sex of their predecessors, only of course it happens more to guys, only our odac's different, should i feel proud?? hahaha i still rem what Wen said. godac.....

Weikai - 01/13/00 11:48:04

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For one, NEVER call me Wee Wee again alrite?! I know I self-proclaimed that ugly name in JC, but I hate the sound of it now. So, do me a favour, wipe that name out of ur minds, thanx =).
For two, I'm back online! Not in the Jeremy sense of online, more of, my h/p is operational again. Retained my old number, 96230020, so you guys can start calling that number again. Got a Philips Xenium in place.
Odac regulars...hmmm....

Jeremy - 01/12/00 15:20:06

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Hey, its not tradition... the chairman's a capable and dynamic person.. Maybe that's why they chose her. I stand behind MY chairman even though she's ____ a girl... Hehe.. I wonder what indignant remarks I'll hear if I put the word "JUST" in the space...< r>
Xinyan - 01/12/00 15:07:41

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Sorry to be so troublesome, but wat about the cost? anyone knows? and on 25th me having 2 tests, 3-5pm, so does that solve my dilemma to me? erm, actually i think i'll e-mail the new chairperson lah. Anyway, talking about the new chairperson, it's a girl gain! humans definitely like to follow traditions huh, not very good i feel.

Wen - 01/12/00 14:36:26

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Hmm, I'll only be a regular at ODAC activities pending Theresa :)

Alvin - 01/12/00 11:43:00

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Oh yes, thank you all once again for the card! It was very nice to read and I'll put it up on the board in my room... along wif some other drawings and photos and other stuff which I;ve gotten here so far =) Then I'll have all my sesame beanies lines up o the shelf... cute rite??? Hmmm.. Penny had a white Christmas because she wasen't in London... All I got was a few seconds of snow and some overnight frost.... Well, enought to make a few snowballs lah =) Jeremy ah, could you kindly give me your sister's mail? I seem to have misplaced it! Hope you all enjoy the Belumut thingy, would have luved to be there as well. Nothing much to do here that remotely counts as exercise, except blading.

Jeremy - 01/12/00 10:02:33

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Okie people, the current people from our batch currently going for BTC at Belumut are me, Wen, 3sa, Josh, Wee Wee, and tentatively HY and Xinyan. HY will be pending availability, and Xinyan will be pending persuasion. Okie...I have their proposed programm for 2000. They are having the obstacle course next Wed 19 Jan..all are welcome... and a Bukit Timah Hill-MacRitchie Hike on Sat 29 Jan. They also have basic kayaking and water confidence on 9 Feb... Mmmmm... everything sounds good..anyway, me and Wen are going to become erm.. well..regulars for the more fun activities... Call me if you guys want to meet up and go down okie?...Hehe...

Xinyan - 01/12/00 04:26:41

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As for the monthly bday celebration thing, I'll definitely try to go! Can imagine the hole in the pocket by the end of the year. But this will mean tt certain pp will be very busy this year, i mean pp like howie, weikai, theresa, yvonne, jeremy, josh, bla blah, who always organises stuff for the batch. uall will be the ones organising right? hehe jason luckily u in US, wun need to organise. about the combined present thing, i think not meaningful, presents should represent your personal feeling towards a ertain person, and tt gets lost in a combined present. no money buy cards lor. personally i would prefer many many small presents to a big one (hehehehe), then i can be happy 26 times (hehehehehe). However, I've always found a combined card very fun, espe ially if people from a particular group has not much to say to me, just small notes all together here and there on a single card, so convenient, read tt time convenient, keep tt time also convenient.

Wen - 01/12/00 02:29:22

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About Belumut I say don't think so much, just go lah. For whatever reason u might have. I think those of us ( Me, Theresa, Jeremy ) that have talked to the juniors find them really nice people, who don't really mind a few old farts tagging along. Perhaps t's because there's only a couple of us at one time, perhaps when the old farts are all together they become more uncommunicative. Still, I don't see how much harm we could cause on a 3 day trip, and we might just enjoy it immensely. Xinyan you're referri g to our reduced fitness issit? Aiyah, now to 25th Feb still got so much time, go and train loh. Btw Weikai 23rd there's an NTU event ( Bike Rally ) so me and Ruth and maybe some other people cannot make it. Perhaps we can arrange the 22nd thing to be nea your other party so you can drop by at both?

Xinyan - 01/11/00 17:38:31

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Hmm...I dunno whether to go. When must we hand in our responses? What does everyone think about the senior tagging along junior trip thing? I would like to go, I mean wah, everything all organised by other pp, i just go and so convenient and have fun and ll that, and probably boast a bit to any juniors who pretend to listen (I'm not talking about our batch people), that kind of thing. But morally not correct. Anyway, Wen, Belumut USED to be boring. I'm not confident now.

Weikai - 01/11/00 17:26:05

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About the birthday thing, it sounds like a great idea, but can we forgo the presents? I mean, imagine the number of friends you have who are also having their 21st bday, and imagine the amt of money to spend if presents are to be bought for all? For us, the more that we are so close and familiar to one another, the more the obligatory present is not needed lor... But of course if you wanna give a present personally it's fine, but can we forgo the group present thing?
And I cannot make it on the 22nd....guess wat, it's another fren's 21st bday party thing. So, well, please try to keep it to 23rd (Sun) so that I can go.
Xinyan...I'm thinking abt what you said about seniors going back, and find that there may be some truth in it....seriously I don't really know what's the purpose of us going back. To help them with BTC? To join in the spirit of ODAC? To get to know the new J1s? To show our face? Don't think we have been achieving much of all these.....but anyway, it just feels good going back. Maybe we shouldn't bother them, as in, we go on our own pace for trekking, or we can even slack at the foot of the mountain and cook dinner for them (suggested by Theresa and supported by others).
I've uploaded some mp3s on this server for my friend...and if you guys are interested pls feel free.
Music of My Heart ~ 'NSYNC & Gloria Estefan
When You Say Nothing At All ~ Ronan Keating
Wo3 Zhen1 De2 Ai4 Chuo4 ~ Kit Chan

Xinyan - 01/11/00 15:56:18

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Hey Jason, how did you fix the Y2k thing? And you added another time zone too! About the 21st Bday thing, even if to yourself a year is just a year, to others, like your frens (eg. me), they may view it as a very impt day for you, so they might muster up nuff jing1 li4 to actually do something for you, so you might know u r still loved by them :o), and then even if it's just an ordinary bday it becomes unordinary because of them right? hehehe, wat a long sentence.

About the Belumut thing, I am worried. However, I have not read the e-mail. i shall go and read the e-mail, but I am still worried. How many people are allowed to go? Even if we are allowed to go, will we be welcomed? I've always not found the idea of sen ors tagging along very nice, and anyway when seniors tagged along they looked extremely bored. it's like two diff groups of pp going the same route. Anyway, i shall go and read the e-mail first.

Jeremy - 01/11/00 15:22:42

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Mmmm.. The correct form of the work should actually be quadriclock..but well.. who cares..Dun worry Penny..many of us here spent New Years Day going through a meat grinder..

Penny - 01/11/00 13:55:14
My URL:yapppe@cheerful.com

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Hello everyone, and happy belated new year!! School just started, so once again, I have internet connection, yipee! Just saw the photos which Weikai put up of the Ubin trip. Looks really good, like last time all over again. And especially the first picture, well, really looked at something which could have been taken when we were in J1. Oh well.. yes, very old now.. Anyway, hope all your new year celebrations were great.\hope no one was as stupid as me, being squashed in a huge huge crowd. though the fireworks were nice. Btw, thank you all for the nice Christmas card.. (Wenyi, my trial marriage, as you call it, is going just fine, hehe!) Oh, and I had a white Christmas, and I built a snowman that was taller than me! =)

Weikai - 01/11/00 10:51:47

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If sharp eyes out there have observed, our clock is now Y2K compliant, and upgraded to a QUADCLOCK, featuring Californian time in addition! Courtesy of Jason....kudos!
Sorry about this sudden influx of southpark stuffs....I just got this set of figurines from a fren's stall at a bazaar, so figured I'll put them into the page to keep Kenny company!

Alvin - 01/10/00 11:54:51

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Hey! I'm late too but Happy New Year to all of u! Thanks for the card as well okie? Just received it this mornin and it was really nice to read it (since the lecturer didn't even bother coming in) during morning class. Spent the Millennium at Westminister Bridge right below Big Ben and under the firework saturated skies! =) !5 mins of spectecular pyrotechnics which lit up the midnight sky as if it was a rainbow hued day =) And not to mention the 2 hours we spent bustling to get anywhere near the bridge and the 3 hours to walk home... Yup, it was really really crowded and left quite a horrible mess of London as well. Oops, gotta run for lessons now. Tell you all more next time okie? Byeeeeee!

Jeremy - 01/09/00 18:38:04

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Agrees with Howie... I mean, well.. a year's a year, but some are special..and this is the one by which the law and society deems us adults. Let's grieve for the loss of our childhood and our subsequent tranisition into oh so boring adulthood...or issit.. Mmm..

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Not meaning to be a wet blanket but to me a year's a year, nothing particularly worth celebrating. Just like New Year's day. Could be just me though.

howie - 01/09/00 17:42:57

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REMEMBER....22nd or 23rd JANUARY...

howie - 01/09/00 17:40:59

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this is the year we celebrate our 21st birthdays...which in my opinion would be a significant event for most of us, cliched as it may be...so i propose to hold a monthly(almost) celebration for our batch....and hopefully we can either pool $$$ to get gift that are meaningful or we can get separate gifts.....but they are not compulsory lar....besides....it's just for this year....we go a lil more broke...worth it rite?....

tink abt it, it'll be a year that we'd remember....so lets work towards it ok?...

we'll start with the january-born, which are Wenyi, Duuwen and Vivien... Please keep 22nd or 23rd (sat or sun) of January free can? Have to book u guys early in advance....okok...for those that cannot make it ...(so far i tink Ruth and Yvonne cannot m ke it...) it's ok....there are a few more months out there to celebrate...and as long as u ALL TURN UP WITH A GIFT for the FEB pple...it's ok with me.....haha....just dun fret...I tink with our current situation, most of us are either too busy with work, rmy , or just too much in the company of ordinary friends...I tink we can meet up in pockets here and there....So i''m making this a monthly thing..something for to look forward to...Just make it a date ok?....and once again i'd like to remind u to bring ll ur frds ok?....:) let's make it happen ok?...goodnite pple..

Weikai - 01/08/00 15:42:52

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Okay man, I'll go.

Jeremy - 01/08/00 03:46:52

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Thank you all for the congrats...grinz... Well... okie... about BTC... The J2s want to know how many of us are going...25th evening to 27th... So far, its me and Wen confirmed...Weikai?.. and the rest?... We try to see if we can provide our own stores.. M m..anyway, I'm supposed to email Binh by Monday to let him now. Yup. so do let me know by Sunday.

Xiufeng - 01/07/00 17:12:58

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Congrats Jere!!!!

Wen - 01/07/00 16:58:54

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Okay, me who's full of initiative has went down to RJ and asked the juniors myself. Apparently the (okay the misclick came right here)tentative plan is an evening train from Tanjong Pagar to M'sia, so we most probably can make it to join them. On a side note I found this year's J2s very friendly and easy to talk to. Amazing how a stranger can just walk up to their board and start talking to them. It's interesting how we're all part of a group so large we don't even know that we really are. They gave me a copy of their year plan and they have Ubin cycling and windsurfing! Also their (extremely) tentative year end expedition is to Vietnam, that sounds short affordable and interesting. Btw Weikai the actual trek up Belumut is kinda short, maybe they have time for other activities. Isn't it nice that those who aren't selected could at least experience one tr k before they are out? And lastly, congrats to Jeremy.

Wen - 01/07/00 16:49:20

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Okay, me who's full of initiative has went down to RJ and asked the juniors myself. Apparently the

Weikai - 01/07/00 02:07:30

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Nope I have no idea what time it starts on Friday. From past experience of trekking in Belumut, think we always leave in the evening right? Reach there in the morning, start climbing and down in less than a day, take the coach in the evening/night again, and reach singapore the next morning.
If you ask me, it's pretty boring.....BTC would be more of a boring trek than something they would fondly remember. But I guess they don't have a choice cos Ubin's out, and it's good enough that they even thought of an alternative venue.
I will try to find out what time they are leaving on Friday......
And erm Jeremy, ConGraTs to you too! But this is like, sooner or later kind of thing right? Didn't come as a surprise to me!

Wen - 01/06/00 19:58:54

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I would really like to go for this BTC ( btw did we go for the 1st BTC when we were enlisted? As in, the 1st one after we graduated. It's been so long, and what with my failing memory.... ) but I need to know what time it starts on Friday too since I stil have school on that day. Hopefully it'll be later, failing which I have to mentally prepare to cut class / think of a creative excuse. Hands up those who think Belumut's a boring mountain.

Shiyin - 01/06/00 16:22:29

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wah... COngrats Jer!

theresa - 01/06/00 14:49:08

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25th-27th Feb is the second weekend of the nus hols, and the first weekend of the ntu hols. weikai, do you know what time it starts on friday 25th?

Jason - 01/06/00 14:20:49

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Xinyan: the calender for 1972 is the same as year 2000, in terms of the leap year and the days of the week = )

theresa - 01/06/00 12:14:33

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YAY jeremy!!

Jeremy - 01/05/00 18:09:17

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To Viv: y e s. To Weikai: Its the first weekend of our holidays right?.. I want to go...will make time for it.. Can you help me pass on to Hoi Shan and the J2s?

Weikai - 01/05/00 16:09:57

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Hi guys Hoishan just contacted me about BTC2000. Believe it or not, the fresh j1s from that fateful tragedy BTC are now seniors, preparing this year's BTC for the new intakes. Really tells how old we are huh.....
Anyway this year's BTC is gonna be at Belumut (I hate that place), most prob from 25-27 Feb. Hopefully that's a weekend. Mr Tay will be the teacher-in-charge. I really don't know how they are going to conduct BTC there, but I suppose BTC is going to be quite a different thing already.
I think we are invited to go too, but need to confirm number soon, so that transport can be arranged. So, well, respond yar?
I've put up 3 emails that Hoishan forwarded to me, and a Word document listing the training programme for ODAC. They will tell u more abt BTC 2000. Please take a look, links below:
Email 1
Email 2
Email 3
Training Programme

Viv - 01/04/00 06:40:11

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Heh heh...somehow, i interprate jere's 'Yes' as "Yes, we are ONLINE!!! " ie ordinary fren has became unordinary...=) I'm i rite to say thatjere? if true then congrats!

siwei - 01/03/00 19:17:24

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yes what?

Jeremy - 01/03/00 17:39:53

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Y E S ! ! !

Siwei - 01/03/00 06:52:38

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Just a quick note. if more than two people play pool.. you divide up the balls.. like there are 15 balls... if you choose 1-5 , then you hit anything OTHER than your own balls....

Siwei - 01/03/00 06:47:13

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HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
Yes... I know... I'm late... can't help it, sorry... I wasn't at my computer over the New Year -- was in TOronto. Can't remember the conv URL offhand. SO how was New Year. I didn't quite figure out from reading the entries as to where you guys actually we t after all. Don't suppose anyone went to one of those countdown concerts? I dunno.. when I was in TOronto, there was this special programme which lasted about 8 hours and showed the countdowns from all over the world and they featured Singapore... showed Gurmit Singh singing some RIcky Martin song. =) Was kinda cool that I could see that from halfway around the world.
Oh... and also, I watched The Green Mile when I was in Montreal (if anyone hasn't caught it, should go and watch, I think it's GOOD ), there were all these movie previews showing and there was this movie which looks very much like it was made in Singapore. Was set in the 60's (I think) and it's about some guy who wants to emulate Bruce Lee.. and then somehow gets into dancing.. and dunno what else lah. but it's just interesting, like I said... to see things from back home.
Well... I didn't realise that the triclock was having problems until Jason mentioned it. but it's kinda cute in a way.. hee.. maybe we should just leave it there.. =P 1900, I'd expect, but 3900??
Anyway, like I said, I was in Toronto for the New Year and I was watching this spectacular fireworks display ( simply lurve fireworks..) by Lake Ontario. And after the entire thing (lasted for about 20 minutes) was over, everyone just walked away from the harbour and it was amazing.. cause it was this HUGE crowd and they all just spilled onto the streets, totally disregarded the cars and it was just soooo cool. =) I think some of the cars were rather impatient (most just resigned themselves to the fate or lse joined in) and they were honking but the crowd just took it as a nice addition to all the cheering and cheered back... =P
All in all.. it was just nice.. =)
Hmmm.. I'm kinda amused at this thing about "in-laws"... I can't believe we're at this stage already.. =P Well... when will be the time when we're all settled and bringing REAL spouses and kids over? Brrrr.... can't imagine...
oklah.. it's getting kinda late. I'd better get off to bed. Will be off again tomorrow evening (my time) .... OFF to florida and the bahamas.. yay...=P So I'll catch you all when I come back.
Oh.. and thanks everyone for the card. =P
luv, me.

Xinyan - 01/03/00 06:10:43

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Oh dear, the clock's really not working, hehe. I really don't know how to fix this coz I dun understand the way the time is calculated. I guess we'll have to snitch another clock from somewhere. Is the calendar for 1997 the same for 2000?

About the millenium swing, it was quite horrible. I mean a lot of people were on their worst behaviour, shoving and pushing to get to the centre stage, myself included. I made my share of enemies also, hehe, luckily the probability of meeting them again i near zero.

About pool, I played quite a lot of it while "backpacking" in malaysia. It's the "just-take-the-white-ball-and-shoot-any-other-ball-and-if-the-white-ball-goes-in-also-happy" kind. Some kind souls tried to teach me seeing the pathetic way I played, and the rules are quite troublesome I think. You've got to decide which colour is yours by shooting turn by turn and see which colour is first shot in by which person. And then after that you cannot touch the other person's colour or the other person gets to go t ice. Something like that. If more than two people play then i don't know how. Play in groups maybe? If someone knows all the rules and all that I really would like to learn.

Jason - 01/02/00 19:17:27

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Hey Weikai, I din see your message. So din call your home. oops = ) I am not the one paying for the phone bill cos it's my dad who is paying. hee... realised that our triclock is sufferring from Y2K bug. hmmm... maybe I can help to fix it when I am bac from my hols. Yep... we are turning 21 this year. Too bad I wouldn't be around to celebrate most of your birthdays, and see all your 'ordinary' friends. haha..

howie - 01/01/00 18:28:37

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damn..pressed enter again...yups..gotta agree that it was great fun and i'd like to make a formal invitation to all to bring ur ordinary frds along whenever and whereever u like...coz we all could do with a larger family in spore since lotsa of us are ard the world now.... no hurry....but dun make us wait too long yeah?...

jason...u're pretty rich to call all the way from NYC..but then again...u have a regular paying job now rite?...ain't that bad to splurge on phone calls to ur loved ones everynow and then?.

i must say that it has been great so far...all the gatherings and dinners.. but i really hope that we can ALL meet up...make it just once in a really long while...mebbe Vivien's 21st bday? she IS our batch OLDEST WOMAN u noe?...:)or mebbe Chinese New Year we'll go visiting... ok...have a great new year ok pple?.

h - 01/01/00 18:19:02

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Wen - 01/01/00 17:09:48

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Hey, tonight was lots of fun. Actually speaking to Jason, and meeting Jeremy's ordinary friend. I wonder if we'll be seeing any other in-laws on our big family outings soon.

HQ - 01/01/00 09:17:24

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Still can't believe I spent the nite of all nites down where it was all happening, but in green (uniform). Was at the biggest party of the millenium but I couldn't take part.. was absolutely crappy. You pple wouldn't believe the amt of cork-ups tt happene , plus I truly believe I made enuff enemies last nite to last me 2 lifetimes. It was way too ambitious of them to attempt to entertain a crowd covering the entire stretch of Orchard Rd. But then... it does look great on TV still (amazingly) Those who went down should noe, the crowd was beyond imagination... the sea of heads, with them hands in the air marking the stage area... thanx to wen & thres for popping down... met Kelvin too... (where were U HY?) Is tonite still on?... the response seems somewat pat etic to me... anyways... HAPPY NEW YEAR everyone!

Jeremy - 12/31/99 05:25:22

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Ons lah...hehe...for all three... chomp chomp, pool and airgun... Now anybody interested in FA course..starts next Tues..I need to inform the organizer..

Weikai - 12/31/99 04:32:05

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Sorry guys, won't be going for the new year meal. Won't be going for pool too.
Jason, my handphone is gone, so don't call that number ok? Call my home, 4462501 instead....would love to hear your voice!
Anyone interested in going for the Airgun Shooting thing in Marina, please leave me a msg or mail me ok! If you still haven't heard about it , it's at the same place as Funshoot, the archery place at Marina. They got really cool airguns modelled after real guns, same weight, same make. Been there to take a look, it's damn cool, but not opened yet. When it's open I'd definitely go.... any takers??

howie - 12/31/99 03:28:30

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Ok...if there are no objections...(are there any????? no one really seems to reply.....please do ok??? coz sometimes it's hard to get u...and when u surf the net...just drop a lil message to say wheher u can or cannot make it....ok?) i guess we'll eat at homp chomp?....

i want to go try my hand at pool in the afternoon...some pple want to try it out?..and please tell me if u want to go too ok???call me....after that we'll meet AT 6pm at Toa Payoh MRT station to take a bus to serangoon... for those who know how to get there....meet at entrance of chompx2 at 6:45pm

got it guys?...

Jason - 12/31/99 00:34:33

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oops, think I made an error. Will call you guys on 1 Jan evening (Singapore) time. Hope I would oversleep on that day = )

Jason - 12/31/99 00:25:33

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Hmm... I missed the food...
Happy New Year to everyone
Will try to call you guys tomorrow morning (Singapore's evening time). Please switch on your handphone, okie = )


Jeremy - 12/30/99 15:47:30

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Well, we've come to the end of yet another year, except that this one's supposed to be special coz we're finally gonna to be able to see a change in the first digit of the year field in DD/MM/YYYY. Well, its also gonna be a time when everyone realises tha the billions that they spent on the Y2K problem just aint enough when everything starts to go crazy. Nah. Personally I think its all super hyped up so the computer people can make big bucks.

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I'm afraid Theresa that I am one of the guilty parties. GRINZ.. hehe.. okie...other stuff.. Anyone wants to get First Aid Certification?.. I am going to be attending a Standard First Aid Course conducted by Red Cross. It will cover most FA and CPR. The co rse is every Tuesday and Friday night for the month of January, and 3 hours each night. It will be held at Red Cross House at Dhoby Ghaut. Cost is $50 pax. Anyone interested please get back to me by this weekend.

theresa - 12/30/99 02:21:12

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$68?? i say chomp chomp. Let me convince you.Tthere is barbecued chicken, oyster omelette, hokkien mee, carrot cake, stingray!!!! and all at the same time too! for $5 a person! maybe more with you people, but it's very very good. and i just discovered it oo, who knew abt it and never told me, huh?

Wen - 12/29/99 16:47:09

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I vote for Chomp Chomp. Yum yum.

Jeremy - 12/29/99 15:50:04

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Whatever eye you people talk about, the only thing that I am concerned with is poking his tummy to add this entry here.

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Apparently windows is programmed to fail the Y2k rollover. Anyone else get the mails about the default settings on windows? Under regional settings/control panel/my computer under the "date" tab, there's a short date setting that says "short date sample. It oughta be mm/dd/yyyy and not mm/dd/yy (that's what they tell me.)

Siwei - 12/28/99 04:18:05

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Hey !! What's that supposed to mean? but anyway.. it IS Kenny's right eye.. just left when seen from our LATERALLY INVERTED perspective.. =P

Weikai - 12/28/99 03:03:49

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Oh yeah of course....the mixed up. Haven't taken Biology in years, the textbook diagram orientation thingee has slipped my mind. But, well, you guys know what I mean by left and right eyes.

Wen - 12/27/99 17:58:37

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To nitpick before Siwei beats me to it.....Weikai you mixed up the left and right eyes. This gotta win the most boliao entry award.

Weikai - 12/27/99 04:06:53

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Did some housekeeping again, shifted older entries to PAST ENTRIES, under past entries 14. Poke Kenny's right eye to access. Taken down Christmas dressings too.

howie - 12/26/99 13:49:11

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well...it was a memorable outing yeah guys?...and i was deliriously happy...:),hope it made ur xmas a lil bit more lively?....anyway...guess it calls for another round of get-togethers before the millenium...this time, i tink those that could not make it ill be able to..... it's less than a week from now, so i suggest it be something simple, mebbe we all just crowd into someone's home, potluck mebbe?....and just countdown to the next millenium?...sure beats jostling with the crowds...

special thanks goes to jason,who called all the way from NY...but err...M1 does not seem to work in ubin very well...so...jason...i heard the pangs of disappointment in your recorded message....man...i really wish i could answer the call...shucks...but ..it was a really great gesture....u take care over there yeah?...

btw...u guys alvin,suzhen, penny, jason and siwei got ur cards yet?... :) have a merry xmas and happy new year pple!!!!

ps. I AM STILL HAPPY!!!

Jeremy - 12/26/99 12:42:23

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Harlow!!! I want to lodge a complaint regarding the comment on photo number 3 okie...Hey!!!!... Oh my oh my oh my...what did I do to deserve such suaning....waaaaaaaaah...... But the pictures are nice...hehe....

Weikai - 12/26/99 09:07:29

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I've put up some Polaroid shots of the Christmas Ubin thing, under Miscellaneous. Poke Kenny's left eye to access.

HQ - 12/26/99 07:54:32

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Had a nice time yesterday... enjoying the sea breeze at Mammam, camping out, walking in the darkness of nite, some even got to watch the sun set from Puaka, talking things out the "comfort" of a tent, mebbe the Hor Fun seemed a little out of place, but we were happy for it definately =). Paragraphing? don't worrie Wen, me no noe either. Btw, JEREMY!, you didn't put the SOCK in my bag after all, so whoever has it pls return me...

Jason - 12/25/99 14:18:51

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Wow, took a long time to find the add entry page cos I only remember the URL for the guestbook. Well, I tried to call you guys this morning (10pm Singapore time) but none of you switched on your handphone. *sob* Haoyang and Jeremy shld have my voice mess ge on their handphone. Could get thru Weikai's phone and got Yvonne's page = ( Anyway, just want to wish you guys ***MERRY CHRISTMAS and A HAPPY NEW YEAR*** Oh, I am in Boston right now, it's freezing cold. Grghhhh....got to go now... miss you all